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City Council proposes roughly $505,000 budget; discussion includes confidential secretary pay, temporary staff and internship idea
Summary
The Lawrence City Council presented an FY26 operating request of just over $500,000 that covers nine councilor salaries, office operations, audit and professional services, and a newly proposed temporary-staff line to support the confidential secretary.
Council President presented the city council’s proposed FY26 budget to fellow councilors, explaining the package totals just over $500,000 and enumerating salaries and line items that fund council operations.
Why it matters: The council budget covers salaries for nine councilors and the council president, office and meeting costs, and audit and professional services paid by the city; staffing decisions influence how the council operates and interfaces with residents.
The city council budget presentation listed personal services at about $342,300 for council salaries (the council president at $27,500, councilors at $25,000 each), purchase of services of approximately $108,000, professional services at $30,000, supplies at about $12,500, and other charges including audit expenses. The president described the total as “a little over half a million dollars.” The audit contract was noted as roughly $70,000 per year.
Several councilors praised the confidential secretary’s work and discussed a recent salary adjustment for that position. Councilors noted that the confidential secretary supports nine elected members and said the role’s responsibilities — including constituent work, scheduling and confidentiality — justified the adjustment. One councilor observed that the last confidential-secretary increase occurred in FY2024; the president said confidential secretaries across departments receive similar considerations.
The council also discussed adding a temporary salary line for either a part-time aide or a paid internship to support the office. The council president framed the idea as building institutional knowledge and offering paid opportunities for students; councilors asked that roles and responsibilities be clarified before hiring.
Councilor Marmol suggested, in a separate comment, that as the city grows the council should consider whether some councilors should transition to full-time positions with dedicated assistants. Councilors acknowledged the workload of the position and that current salaries (councilors $25,000; president $27,500) do not reflect a full-time-equivalent job.
No formal vote on the council’s own budget line occurred during the hearing. The council president said staff will provide requested budget details and that the council will continue discussing the item during remaining budget hearings.
